page 219

BIOGRAPHICAL
219

held the office continuously since, being re-elected for the seventh year in the
spring of 1884. At the general election in 1882 he was elected on the Republican tick-
et to represent the First Legislative District (Union and Clay counties) as member of the
Council in the Fifteenth Territorial Legislative Assembly, a position he filled with fidel-
ity and ability. He is one of the Regents of the University of Dakota, and chairman of
the Executive Committee, a position for which he is peculiarly fitted. He is a man of
marked ability, and a good example of a thoroughly westernized New Englander. He
has worked persistently for his town and county, and largely through his efforts the lo-
cation of the State University was secured for Vermillion. Thoroughly public spirited
and enterprising, always alive to every public interest, true to his friends, benevolent
and liberal to the last degree, he has made for himself an honorable place among the
builders of the great State of Dakota that is soon to be.

W. G. BOWER, brick manufacturer, Vermillion, was born in New York, and came
to Vermillion in 1868, being the pioneer in brick industry in this section. He has had

[engraving of house, residence of W. G. Bower]

RESIDENCE OF W. G. BOWER.

many years experience in this branch, and his brick are second to none in the Territory.
Mr. Bower is largely interested in town property, and ranks among the solid men of
Vermillion.

LYMAN BURGESS, farmer, P. O. Vermillion, was born in Hvideso, Norway,
November 23, 1829. Emigrated to the United States in 1844, and settled in Dane County,
Wis. He remained there until twenty-seven years of age, when he came to Dakota in
1860, and settled in Clay County, in the southeast corner, and moved to his present
place in April, 1882. Mr. Burgess owns in all over 800 acres of land.

HENRY BUTLER, photographer. People who desire to preserve their present ap-
pearance for future reference, can be accommodated in Vermillion as satisfactorily as
in any town in Dakota. Mr. Butler was born in the State of New York and located here
in 1871. As an artist he has attained a well merited reputation and has a good busi-
ness.

H. B. CHAFFEE, associated editor of the (Vermillion) Dakota Republican, is one of
the most favorably known newspaper men in southern Dakota, and there are but few
in the territory who can brandish a Faber No. 2, more eloquently, on topics generally.
He started in 1875 the Swan Lake Era, the first paper in Turner County, which he pub-
lished twenty months and has since been constantly associated with the press of south-
ern Dakota.

WINTHROP CHANDLER, proprietor of the Chandler House. One of the most popu-
lar hostelries in the northwest is the above house, and its popularity is increasing from
year to year. Mr. Chandler, the urbane host, was born in Cortland County, New York,
in 1810. He came to Wisconsin in 1841; in 1856 he removed to Iowa; thence in 1877 to
Dakota. He married Margaret Grant in 1857. Mr. Chandler was engaged in the prac-
tice of law at Dubuque, Iowa, for some time.

JAMES A. COPELAND, real estate, loan and insurance agent. The leader in the
above agencies in Clay County, is Mr. Copeland, who located here in 1881, coming from
Illinois, his native State. He represents first-class insurance, places loans reasonably,
and is thoroughly conversant with the real estate of Clay County.

DOWNING & LUMLEY, bankers. Among the valuable organizations which it has
been the fortune of Vermillion to secure in 1883, and an institution that will add
largely to the commercial interests of Clay County, is the banking house of Downing &
Lumley (Clay County Bank). Mr. G. H. Downing was originally from Vermont and
George W. Lumley from England. They are recently from Nebraska. This firm also
carries on business at Grand View, Dakota, under the style of "Douglas County Bank."

[engraving of school building]

PUBLIC SCHOOL, VERMILLION.

CHARLES E. GARDNER, farmer, P. O. Vermillion, came to Dakota in the autumn of
1866, being among the pioneers, and has since been an active farmer. He was born in Ohio
February 27, 1839. He lived for fourteen years in Muscatine County, Iowa. During
the war he served three years.

JULIUS GUNDERSON, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 4, Town 92, Range 51, P.
O. Vermillion, was born in Norway February 14, 1845. He came to the United States in
1851, and located in Walworth County, Wisconsin, where he was for about sixteen
years, engaged in agricultural pursuits. He came to Dakota in 1867, and after spend-
ing three years in locating his claims returned to Wisconsin. Three years later, in
1873, he again came to Dakota, and has made it his place of residence since. In 1865
he was in Southern employ at Nashville.

HARVEY GUNDERSON, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 34, Town 92, Range 51,
P. O. Vermillion, was born in Bratsberg Amt, Norway, July 30, 1840. In 1851
he emigrated to America, and located in Walworth County, Wisconsin. Ten years later
he enlisted in the war of the rebellion in Company H, Thirteenth Wisconsin Volunteer
Infantry, and served four years and three months, being mustered out November 24,
1865, as Corporal, at San Antonio, Texas, and discharged December 27, 1865, at Madi-
son, Wis. He came to Dakota in 1869 and located near his present place of residence.
He is engaged in raising blooded stock. Mr. Gunderson served one term in 1874 as
County Commissioner, and is a member of Miner Post, No. 8, G. A. R.

N. C. HANSON, farmer and stock-raiser, southeast quarter of Section 27, Town 93,
Range 51, P. O. Vermillion, was born in Denmark May 16, 1883. In 1863 he came to
America and located in Racine County, Wisconsin, whence, in 1868, he came to Dakota and
homesteaded his land. He owns 160 acres, and has about seventy acres under cultiva-
tion. November 27, 1863, he married, in Clay County, Miss Amelia Amtin, a native of
Denmark. They have six children--William, Fred, George, Jens, Christian and Lewis.
He is a member of the Lutheran Church.

JOHN HARRINGTON, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 31, P. O. Vermillion, came
to Dakota in 1867, since which time he has been an active citizen of Clay County. He
was born in England June 29, 1830, and came to the United States in 1859, locating in
Winneshiek County, Iowa.

ALFRED HELGESON, druggist, was born in Sweden in 1850, and came to the
United States with his parents in 1852, and settled in Wisconsin. He went to Philadel-
phia, where he received his education and studied the drug business From there he
went to New York, where he lived five years; then moved to Dakota, arriving here in
1877. Mr. Helgeson is one of the most efficient pharmaceutical chemists in southern
Dakota.

JOHN O. HENDRICKS, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 30, P. O. Vermillion, was
born in Montgomery County, Pa., August 17, 1825. He came to Dakota in 1866, locating
where he now resides. He previously resided in Ohio and Iowa. Mr. Hendricks has a
valuable farm under a high state of cultivation.

NELS LEER, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 21, Town 93, Range 51, P. O. Ver-
million, was born in Throndhjen, Denmark, July 24, 1836, where he was engaged in
agricultural pursuits. He immigrated to the United States in 1868, and came direct to
Dakota, and located on the northeast quarter of Section 21, 160 acres, of which forty are
under cultivation. July 26, 1863, he married, and has six children--James, Betsy,
Christina, Hannah, Evan and Andrew. He is a member of the Lutheran Church.

JOHN LORE, farmer and stock-raiser, southwest quarter of Section 21, Town 93,
Range 51, P. O. Vermillion, is a native of Norway, born March 21, 1834. He was
engaged in farming in his native country until he immigrated to America in 1870. He
came direct to Dakota and homesteaded his land. He owns the southwest quarter of
Section 21, the northeast quarter of Section 26, and the southeast quarter of Section 14,
and five acres of timber in Nebraska. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, organ-
ized in 1869-70, and which has about fifty-three members.

A. S. McDONALD, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Vermillion. This substantial
farmer was among the pioneers of the county, and has continually been an ardent sup-
porter of all enterprises that would have a tendency to further its interests. He is the
father of Deputy Warden McDonald of the Dakota Penitentiary.

ERICK NILLSON, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Vermillion. One who has
attained a reputation for contributing amply toward giving Clay County a prestige in
point of agricultural productions is Mr. Nillson. He owns a fine farm which is in a
high state of cultivation.

C. F. OAKLEY, County Treasurer. This prominent young gentleman and compe-
tent official was born in Wisconsin. He came to Dakota with his parents and located in
Vermillion, which has since been his home. Mr. Oakley is serving his first term as
Treasurer of Clay County.

KNUDT OLSON, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Vermillion. Mr. Olson has been
a resident of the county upwards of ten years, and has attained the reputation of being
one of the solid and progressive farmers.

OLE J. OPLAND, farmer, Section 15, Town 93, Range 51, P. O. Vermillion, was
born in Norway, February 23, 1833, where he was engaged in farming. When twenty-
five years of age, he immigrated to America. He owns 160 acres, the southwest quarter
of Section 15, of which sixty acres are under cultivation, all in corn. He also raises
stock. In 1867 he married Miss Hilla Auerstatta, by whom he has one child living--
Andrew. Mr. Opland is a member of the Lutheran Church.

A. A. PARTRIDGE, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 13, P. O. Vermillion; among
the first in this section, and one who has kept pace with the progress of the country is
Mr. Partridge. He was born in New York and came to southern Dakota with others in
1859, since which time, with a slight intermission, he has been a resident of Clay County.
He is the owner of a valuable farm in the suburbs of Vermillion.

[engraving of university building]

DAKOTA UNIVERSITY, VERMILLION.

JOHN RUSSELL, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 13, P. O. Vermillion, is the pio-
neer of pioneers in southern Dakota. He was born in Michigan and came West in
1857. For a time he remained on the opposite side of the river, but the same year came
and located in what embodies Clay County. His interests have been almost continually
here, where he endured all the inconveniences incident to the early settlement of the
county.

G. T. SALMER, druggist and apothecary. Among the prominent business men of
the city may be mentioned G. T. Salmer. He was born in Norway, in 1845, and came to
America in 1866. He settled in Chicago for six months, then moved to Wisconsin,
thence to Sioux City, Iowa, where he lived three years. He then moved to Dakota, and
settled in Vermillion. He served in the military in the "old country" one year. He
married Sarah Hansen, of Norway. They have two children--Joseph and Clara.

INBREGT SEVERSON, farmer and stock-raiser P. O. Vermillion. Mr. Severson
is a man who is deserving of mention for tact, enterprise and courage. He became a
resident of Clay County before it was organized, over twenty-five years ago, and has
since been constantly recognized as a leader among his Norwegian countrymen. Dur-
ing the terrible Indian outbreak of 1862, he was the only man who remained at home
between Vermillion and Yankton. He had come to stop and has done so, with profit to
himself and the community. Mr. Severson is a genial gentleman in every sense the
word implies.

WILLIAM SHRINER, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 12, P. O. Vermillion, was
born in Pennsylvania. He was a pioneer in Clay County, having come here in 1861. He
has been a resident of Vermillion since its infancy, and has always worked for, and con-
tributed toward, the building up of the town. He has served as County Treasurer eight
years and been otherwise prominently identified with the interests of the county.

JENS N. STEPHANSEN, farmer, Section 27, P. O. Vermillion, was born in Den-
mark, May 19, 1836. He was engaged in farming in his native country until his immi-
gration to America in 1871, when he located in Racine, Wis., and was there in the
brewing business for eight years. Coming to Dakota, he engaged in farming. Novem-
ber 4, 1870, he married, in Denmark, Miss Mary Sarensen, and they have one child--
Mary. Mr. Stephansen owns 160 acres of land in Section 27, and has of the northwest
quarter about seventy-five acres under cultivation, and has forty in rye, oats, barley
and wheat. He also raises stock. He is a member of the Lutheran Church.

S. G. TAINTER, stockman, P. O. Vermillion, came to Dakota in 1882. He makes a
specialty of Poland China hogs, and has been very successful. Mr. Tainter is a native
of Crawford County, Wis., and was born December 7, 1850, and resided in Dunn
County for several years.

J. D. VAUGHAN, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Vermillion, was born in Jefferson
County, N. Y., in 1815, and came to Dakota in 1865, and established a blacksmith shop
in Vermillion, doing an extensive business for several years. He has been United States
Commissioner, Justice of the Peace and connected with school matters. Few in Clay
County have rendered more substantial support.

HENRY C. WASHBURN, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 15, P. O. Vermillion, was
born in Vermont. He came to Dakota in 1867, and has been a constant tiller of the soil
since that time. His farm has no superior in the township, and he ranks among the
substantial citizens. Personally Mr. Washburn is a genial gentleman, and well posted
on the current topics of the day.

[CANUTE?] WEEKS, farmer, P. O. Vermillion, came to Dakota in 1868. He is one of
the most extensive agriculturists in the county, and owns one of the most desirable
homes, indicating comfort and prosperity.

[engraving of D. M. Inman's bank building, Vermillion]

D. M. INMAN'S BANK, VERMILLION.

P. S. WILLIAMS, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Vermillion. There are few of the
early settlers who are better known than Mr. Williams, he having been engaged in
diversified pursuits for a number of years. He is numbered among the successful farm-
ers of this section.

GEORGE W. WOODWORTH, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 9, P. O. Vermillion.
Among the substantial and representative citizens of Clay County may be mentioned
Mr. Woodworth. He was among the early settlers of Spirit Mound Township, and has
been continually identified with its progress. He is a practical man of excellent judg-
ment, has held offices of trust and responsibility and is considered authority on all local
matters pertaining to the community. Mr. Woodworth has 400 acres of choice land,
well calculated for diversified farming.

BURBANK.

OLE ANDERSON, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Burbank, is one of the early set-
tlers of the Bluff Center section, and one of the representative agriculturists of the
township.

N. W. CUSICK, farmer, Section 26, P. O. Burbank, was born in New York. He was
among the pioneers of Clay County, having located in this section in 1859. He has been
eminently successful in farming, and is one of the leading agriculturists of southern
Dakota.

D. MAYNARD, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Burbank Mr. Maynard has one of
the most desirable stock farms between Vermillion and Elk Point, and has made a suc-
cess of farming during his long sojourn in the county by combining the practical with
the theoretical.

GREENFIELD.

M. J. SCHULTZ, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 15, Town 93, Range 51, P. O.
Greenfield, was born in Aalborg, Denmark, November 17, 1846. He was engaged in
farming in his native country until his emigration to America, August, 1867, when he
located in Omaha, Neb. The year following he made Dakota his place of residence. His
land is the northeast quarter and the east half of the northwest quarter of the section.
May 5, 1869, he married in Union County, Dakota, Miss Christina R. Anderson of Den-
mark. They have eight children--Carrie J., Anna M., Christian J., Martine C., Carolina
W., Laura A., Andrew J., and Paul Martin. Since the organization of the township Mr.
Schultz has been Assessor of Prairie Center. He is a member of the Lutheran Church
of Prairie Center township, and is also a member of the school board of District No. 18.

BLOOMINGDALE.

JOHN M. CLELAND, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 12, Town 93, Range 52, P. O.
Bloomingdale, was born in Scotland, but raised in Wisconsin, and came to Dakota in
1869. Mr. Cleland is one of the most extensive real estate owners in the county, and
has made a success of farming by combining the practical with the theoretical.

JASPER HIXSON, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Bloomingdale, came to Dakota in
1868 from his native State, Iowa, and has since been a resident here.

FRED KNUDSON, farmer and stock-raiser, Bloomingdale, was one of the first in this
portion of the county, and one of the most extensive stockmen and real estate owners
of south Dakota. He has a fine residence situated on an eminence that commands a fine
view of the Vermillion valley.

LODI.

E. B. DAWSON, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 17, P. O. Lodi, was born in Ohio.
He has been a resident of Clay County since 1869, and has done much towards gaining
the reputation the county has attained of being second to none in the Territory. Mr.
Dawson has a well arranged stock farm, and in point of superior grades of cattle and
horses he is unexcelled in southern Dakota. He is well known in political circles, being
independent in his views, and an ardent worker in any cause he advocates. He attained
considerable prominence in 1883 in the part he took in behalf of dividing the Territory,
being one of the prime movers of the Sioux Falls convention.

KOMSTAD.

B. J. BARTON, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 22, P. O. Komstad, came to the Ter-
ritory in the spring of 1870, being among the first in this section. Mr. Barton makes a
specialty of the stock business and has been successful in this industry. He was born
in Massachusetts, but was principally reared and educated in Ashtabula County, Ohio.
For a time he was a resident of Iowa. He was married in Iowa to Miss Mary A. Stan-
ley. They have one son, Benjamin J., Jr.

RIVERSIDE.

LEVI BARTON, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 17, P. O. Riverside, came to the
Territory in 1870, being among the pioneers of his locality. Mr. Barton is a native of
Rochester, New York; for a number of years was a resident of Washington County,
Iowa. During the war he served three years in the Eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry.
He was married in Iowa to Miss Maggie Aicher. They have one son, Howard.

L. H. BELL, stock-raiser, P. O. Riverside, was born in Walworth County, Wiscon-
sin. He came to Dakota in 1870, locating at Vermillion, taking a homestead in Clay
County. He has been Register of Deeds two years, and deputy Register of Deeds for
Clay County two years. When the Black Hills country was opened he had charge of
the United States records at Rapid City, and was Clerk of the Courts there for a couple
of years. Mr. Bell is making a specialty of thoroughbred stock, and has on his farm
Short-horn cattle and Berkshire hogs that are unsurpassed in the Territory. His estate
is admirably adapted to this branch, and he has already attained considerable reputation
among stock fanciers.

ALL NEWTON, farmer and Postmaster, Riverside, Section 9. In the autumn of
1870, Mr. Newton became a resident of Dakota, and has contributed abundantly to-
wards the development of his locality. He is a native of Livingston County, New York,
and was married in that State to Miss Julia McGovern. They have two children--
Annie and Charles. Politically Mr. Newton is a Republican. He was a delegate to the
Territorial Convention in 1881.

STAR CORNER.

J. J. HAGAMAN, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 23, P. O. Star Corner, was born
in Carroll County, Ohio, December 14, 1844. During the war he served in the Second
Ohio Heavy Artillery. He came to Dakota from Black Hawk County, Iowa. He was
married in Ohio to Miss C. D. Grigsby. They have five children--Mary E., Edith J.,
Minnie M, Elasyph and Charles W.

BETHEL,

JAMES MAGNER, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 12, P. O. Bethel. Mr. Magner
dates his residence in Clay County from 1871, coming from Pennsylvania, his native
State. He is a thorough farmer, as his real estate, buildings, etc., indicate, and has
made a success of Dakota soil.

SAYBROOK.

H. H. VINTON, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 9, P. O. Saybrook, was born in Mich-
igan and came to the Territory in 1873. He has one of the finest farms in southern Da-
kota and ranks among its practical agriculturists.

BLUFF CENTRE.

FAYETTE W. HART, farmer and butter manufacturer, P. O. Bluff Centre. The
most extensive creamery in the county is owned by Mr. Hart who came here from Wis-
consin in 1882. His farm is admirably adapted for this industry, and he has an increas-
ing demand for his gilt edge brand.

H. A. LONG, farmer and Postmaster, Bluff Centre, was born in Pennsylvania, and
came to Clay County in 1870. He owns one of the finest farms in the county, admirably
adapted for diversified farming. His buildings are situated in a beautiful grove, which
adds much to the attractiveness of his home. Mr. Long devotes much of his time to
horticulture, of which he has made a success.

P. O. CENTREVILLE, TURNER COUNTY.

WILLIAM LOWRIE, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 2, P. O. Centreville, Turner
County, came to the Territory in 1870, being the first in this section, as there was not a
building nearer than ten miles from where he located. He has since been identified with
its farming interests. Mr. Lowrie is also interested in the hardware business in Cen-
treville. Has been County Commissioner, and otherwise before the public officially. He
is a native of Scotland; for several years he resided in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin.
During the war he served three years in the Second Wisconsin Cavalry. He has been
twice married, first in Wisconsin to Miss S. J. Watson (now deceased). His present wife
was Miss S. J. Epple, of Dakota.

HUTCHINSON COUNTY.

OLIVET.

WILLIAM J. BABBIDGE, farmer, P. O. Olivet, was born in Maine in 1825. When
eleven years of age he went to sea, and for twenty years followed merchant shipping. In
1856 he located in Michigan and was there until 1874. In the meantime he served eleven
months and a half in the Twenty-sixth Maine Infantry, during the rebellion. In 1874
he came to Dakota and took a homestead in Hutchinson County, in the Jim River Val-
ley. He was among the early settlers of this county, there being no railroads within
thirty miles, and but few settlers in the country. He served four years as Constable of
his township. In 1848 he was married and has five living children--Cynthia, Clara,
Phoebe, Lucy and Lillie.

W. B. BALDWIN, stock raiser, P. O. Olivet, was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio,
in 1846, but was raised in Cuyahoga County, living there until 1867. From there he
went to an adjoining county and engaged in farming until 1874, when he came to
Dakota, locating in Hutchinson County. He was among the first settlers in the county,
and located on the prairie, where he took a homestead and a timber claim and then
secured another claim of 160 acres. Yankton, the nearest town, was thirty-five miles
distant, where he had to market his produce and get supplies, after taking three days
with an ox team to make a trip. Mr. Baldwin has sixty acres in cultivation, and forty
acres planted in timber. He is engaged in farming and has a stock of fifty head of
cattle and six horses. His farm is admirably adapted to stock raising. Mr. Baldwin
served as County Commissioner for three years. He was married in November, 1869,
to Miss Louisa A. Shaw, of Ohio. They have five children--Jennie A., William A., C.
B., J. H. and Anna F.

J. C. BOYLES, Clerk of the Court, Olivet, was born in Dubois County, Indiana, in
1851, where he resided until 1864, when he settled in Illinois. In 1874 he came to
Dakota, locating in Hutchinson County. The county having few settlers there was
plenty of vacant land, and Mr. Boyles secured 320 acres near the town of Olivet, work-
ing on his land in the summer and teaching winters, up to 1877, having taught the
first school in Hutchinson County. He now has his place in a high state of cultivation.
In 1875 at the first session of court in the county, he was appointed Clerk of the Court,
which position he has held continuously since, with credit to himself and satisfaction
to the people. In the summer of 1883 he was chosen a delegate to the Huron conven-
tion for the purpose of calling a constitutional convention to draft a constitution for
the coming State of Dakota. September 4, 1878, he was united in marriage to Miss
Carrie Havnes. They have three children--Ada, Ida and Joseph C.

C. J. BRANCH, farmer, was born in Meigs County, Ohio, in 1846. When seven years
old he located in Wayne County, Illinois, with his parents, where he remained until the
winter of 1875, when he came to Dakota and located in Hutchinson County. Here he
secured 320 acres of land in homestead and timber claims two miles from Olivet, the
county seat of Hutchinson County. He has the place well improved for the length of
time he has been here, and has a very desirable stock farm with good water and rich
grass lands. He has ten acres of timber planted, good buildings, etc. In the fall of
1876 he was appointed County Surveyor and the following fall was elected to fill the
same office and has held it continuously since, except one term. He also served as
deputy clerk of district court and one term as deputy sheriff. He was married in 1870,
in Wayne County, Ill., to Miss Louisa Harmon, of that county. They have seven chil-
dren--Newton O., C. F., Maria O., Virginia B., Willie, Walter and Harry.

S. M. DABOLL, County Superintendent and farmer, was born in Rensselaer County,
N. Y., in 1823, where he was raised and lived until February, 1875, when he came to
Dakota, locating at Olivet. Here he secured 320 acres of land by homestead and timber
claims, which he at once began to improve. He has sixty acres in cultivation, has
planted forty acres of timber, put up a house, formed a large pasture, and made various
other improvements. He also built a hotel in Olivet the same year he located, and has
carried on the house with his other business. In the fall of 1875 at the general election,
he was elected to the office of Superintendent of Schools, and has done good work in
establishing schools and improving the same. In June, 1883, he was chosen a delegate
to the Huron convention for the purpose of calling a convention in the fall to draft a
constitution for the State of Dakota, and was then chosen a delegate to the Constitu-
tional Convention held in September 1883. Mr. Daboll has devoted his time and
energy to the improvement of the county, and is one of her first citizens. He was mar-
ried in 1848 to Miss Lucy A. Rittel, of New York. They have two children, Seneca A.
and Malvina.

F. J. EISENMANN, Register and County Clerk, was born in Bavaria, Germany, in
1840. He emigrated to America with his parents the same year and was raised in Mil-
waukee, Wis. About 1855 he located at Barton, Wis., thence to Chicago, where he
remained about fourteen years. During the fire of 1871 he was burned out and re-
turned to Wisconsin, and in 1876 located in Dakota, securing a farm of 320 acres in
Hutchinson County. The county had but few settlers and the nearest railroad point
was Yankton, about thirty miles distant. For a year or two he was eaten out by the
grasshoppers, and had his crops destroyed by hail, but he still remained on his farm,